Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03OTTAWA1136
2003-04-22 21:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:  

CANADA RULES OUT BID FOR OSCE CHAIR

Tags:  PREL CA OSCE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001136

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2013
TAGS: PREL CA OSCE
SUBJECT: CANADA RULES OUT BID FOR OSCE CHAIR

REF: A. STATE 101332 B. USOSCE 184

Classified By: Pol MC Brian Flora for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).

(C) Poloff conferred with Lisa Helfand, Deputy Director of
the NATO/NORAD section in DFAIT's International Security
Bureau, on April 22 concerning Canada's interest in the OSCE
chairmanship. Helfand indicated that Canada has decided not
to be a candidate for the OSCE chair in 2006, for a couple of
reasons. First, a decision to seek the chairmanship would
need to be made by the Prime Minister, and Canada will have a
new prime minister in less than a year's time. Second, while
acknowledging that holding the OSCE chair makes sense for
Canada politically and in terms of its foreign policy
interests, Helfand indicated the costs and logistics involved
in serving as chair from this side of the Atlantic are
prohibitive for Canada. (Comment: The financial burden cited
by Helfand would also seem to argue against future OSCE
chairmanships for Canada.)
CELLUCCI